Hawaii's Volcanoes Are Not Extinct and Not Dormant - How this effects you. (Kilauea: real estate)

[pbmaise]

Hawaii's Volcanoes ceased to be extinct, dormant, or active when their status was changed by the United States Geological Society (USGS).

This information is relevant to anyone selling or describing property in Hawaii. Terms commonly used in the past such as extinct, dormant, or active should no longer be used.

It seems the USGS has been surprised one too many times when a volcano thought to be "extinct" awoke and announced it was pretending.

For this reason the USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory has now adopted 4 Volcanic-Alert Levels. These are:

Normal
Typical background activity of a volcano in a non-eruptive state
After a change from a higher level: Volcanic activity considered to have ceased, and volcano reverted to its normal, non-eruptive state.

Advisory
Elevated unrest above known background activity
After a change from a higher level: Volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.

Watch
Heightened/escalating unrest with increased potential for eruptive activity (timeframe variable) OR a minor eruption underway that poses limited hazards.

Warning
Highly hazardous eruption underway or imminent.


As a result of the new designations disclosures of real estate property will grow by a few lines.

A proper disclosure should contain at a minimum:
The name of the volcano.
The best approximate date of last eruption, or
The date current eruption began.
The current Volcanic-Alert Status.
The date that status was last confirmed.

I have submitted 5 new suggested templates to the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors, and Kona Board of Realtors.

Other changes will be discussed in future posts.


Philip Maise
Pahoa Hawaii

[McFrostyJ]

Very interesting stuff! I hadn't heard of this before. So, I looked it up and it says that the volcano that is in my back yard (Mt Hood) is normal.

[leilaniguy]

Kilauea is on Watch, has been for a long time as it has been erupting almost continously since 1983. Right now= minor eruption with limited hazards.

[KonaKat]

Thanks for the headsup, I had not heard of this yet. I will check w/ HIBR and my broker to make sure we're up on any "new" disclosure items for the Big Island of Hawaii Disclosure addendum.

[pbmaise]

Aloha
Excellent! I'm pleased many of you reported looking up your Volcanic-Alert level. Volcanic-Alert levels are subject to change, and it is important that you can find the status of your volcano. It is both a matter of safety, and a matter of providing full disclosure to potential buyers of your property when you sell.

The Volcanic-Alert levels are uniform for the entire US and I see someone looked up Mt. Hood.

Feel free to cut and paste the original post to others. My intention is that the information be public as possible. It may also be good to add to your own website...HOWEVER....only include what the status is now and include a statement on your site that the current status should be confirmed.

Aloha
Philip Maise
Pahoa Hawaii